U.S. Government Sues Uber for Discriminating Against Riders

Filed in federal court in San Francisco, the complaint alleges that Uber drivers routinely deny rides to passengers with service animals or collapsible wheelchairs, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Justice Department also claims that drivers have improperly charged cancellation and cleaning fees tied to service animals, and in some cases insulted or demeaned disabled riders.

“Uber’s discriminatory conduct has caused significant economic, emotional, and physical harm to individuals with disabilities,” the DOJ said in its filing.

Reuters reports the lawsuit focuses on 17 cases of alleged mistreatment. One involves a seven-year-old amputee from New York who was refused a ride after one of Uber's drivers questioned his wheelchair needs. There's also Gulf War veteran Jason Ludwig, who missed a flight after an Uber driver denied him and his service dog a ride to the airport for some reason.

Then there's the story of a blind man in Philadelphia who claims four drivers canceled on him in under 20 minutes after learning he used a guide dog.

Uber pushed back on the allegations in a statement, saying it has a “zero-tolerance policy” for confirmed service denials and remains committed to accessibility. The company added that riders who rely on service animals or mobility assistance “deserve a safe, respectful, and welcoming experience on Uber—full stop.”

Uber drivers are considered independent contractors, so it does get a bit murky in how much control Uber has over the conduct of its service providers in the wild. The DOJ is seeking an injunction to prevent furteher ADA violations, upgrades to Uber’s driver training and policies, monetary damages, and civil penalties.

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